Download AP Government - Chesapeake Public Schools

AP United States Government and Politics Summer Assignment
Dr. Craig & Mrs. Dixon
[email protected]
[email protected]
Due: First Day of Class (If you begin this class in the spring, then turn in at that time.)
Part I. The Federalist Papers
(The Federalist Papers and the U.S. Constitution can be found online.)
Instructions: Read Federalist Papers #10, #51, and #78. Answer the following questions.
Federalist #10
1. How does Madison justify his concerns about the problem of factions?
2. Why is it impractical and unwise to eliminate factions?
3. What aspects of human nature make factions inevitable?
4. How does the existence of factions undermine law-making?
5. Why are majority-factions more dangerous to democracy than minority factions?
6. Why are pure democracies more vulnerable to factions than republics (representative democracies)?
7. What are two important differences between a pure democracy and a republic?
8. Why are good representatives more likely to be elected in a large republic than in a small republic?
9. Why does a small republic need more representatives in proportion to its population than a large republic?
10. Why is a smaller republic less likely to find enough good representatives?
11. Why does a larger expanse of territory protect against the formation of majority-factions?
Research and Discussion Questions
1. What is the Madisonian Model of government? What was the purpose of this model?
2. What is Madison’s view of human nature?
3. How did the framers of the Constitution feel about political parties? Would Madison view our modern
political parties as factions? Explain.
Federalist #51
1. Why will judicial branch officials (judges and justices) remain independent even though they are appointed by
the executive and approved by the legislature?
2. If Congress could raise or lower the President’s salary, it would be difficult for him to remain independent.
Why?
3. What two groups must government control?
4. For what purpose is power distributed in governments, or in any organization?
5. How will the power of the legislative branch be balanced against those of the weaker, executive branch?
6. What features of the new Constitution doubly protect the rights of the people?
7. By what two methods can the rights of the minority be protected against the unjust actions of the majority?
8. Why would rights not be secure if an elected official were in charge of protecting minority interests against
threats from a majority faction?
9. According to Madison, why are rights less safe in a small republic than in a large one?
10. When the rights of the minority are not protected, what eventually happens to the government?
11. What special features of the country and of the proposed government will protect the U.S.?
Research and Discussion
1. How does our system of separated powers compare to a parliamentary system? Which system is more
efficient? Which is more representative of the people it serves?
2. Madison says, “But what is government itself but the greatest reflection on human nature.” Judging from the
Federalist #51 and from the structure of the government created by the Constitution in 1787, what is Madison’s
view of human nature?
Federalist #78
1. What issues regarding the judiciary does Hamilton say he will not write about in this essay because they have
already been discussed?
2. What governments already granted judges life-tenure when this essay was written?
3. What protection do unlimited terms of office give to judges?
4. In what ways is the judicial branch the weakest branch?
5. What would happen if the judiciary could not maintain its separation from the other branches?
6. How does a strong judiciary branch help to maintain limited government and therefore individual rights?
7. Why is it true that any law which contradicts the Constitution must be invalid?
8. Why can’t the legislature decide whether laws are unconstitutional?
9. If the judiciary can over-ride laws passed by the legislature, then the judicial branch must be above the
legislative branch. Yet Hamilton says that it is not. What argument does he use to prove that it isn’t?
10. When two laws passed by the same legislature contradict each other, how is the matter usually decided?
11. Why is the rule used to decide the matter in Question 10 above reversed when a law contradicts the
Constitution?
12. Why does Hamilton say that it is pointless to argue that the power of judicial review will enable judges to
rule in ways that will serve only their own interests?
13. Why is life tenure necessary in order that the judicial branch be able to protect individual rights against a
majority of the public?
14. Why shouldn’t people be able to act in ways that violate constitutional principles if they do not agree with
the Constitution?
15. How does everyone benefit when the rights of individuals or groups are protected?
16. Why should neither legislature nor the people voting directly be allowed to elect judges for limited terms of
office?
17. Why would a federal judge need to be a person of great skill and learning? Why might limited terms of office
discourage the best qualified people from accepting judgeships?
Research and Discussion
1. What checks on judicial power can the other two branches exercise?
Part II. The U.S. Constitution
Summarize the basic provision(s) of each of the first 10 amendments (Bill of Rights) to the Constitution.
(One to two sentences for each amendment – approximately 1 -2 page(s), double spaced, 10 -12 point font)
What do the first five articles of the US Constitution address? What are the enumerated powers of the Congress,
President and Supreme Court, as contained in the Constitution?
(Approximately 1 -2 page(s), double spaced, 10-12 font)